Convertible snow plow with slidable closing wings

ABSTRACT

This disclosure is of a moldboard type of plow, more particularly for snow removal, wherein the moldboard is comprised of a pair of wings mounted on a frame to be connected to a vehicle, whereby the wings may swing as a unit around a central point so as to direct the material being plowed to one side or the other of a vehicle, or push such material straight ahead, and alternatively position the wings to cause the movement of the material to opposite sides of the vehicle, simultaneously or separately and in this latter position certain means to close the gap created in the V-position are provided, which means are movable into and out of position for that purpose, suitable operating means being provided therefor.

United States Patent [19 1 Ramsey [451 Apr. 16, 1974 [76] Inventor:Ralph Ramsey, c/o Burch Corporation, 927 Clink Blvd, Crestline, Ohio44827 [22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 295,259

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,014,783 9/1935 Schubert37/53 3,491,467 l/1970 Finger 37/104 3,526,979 9/1970 Ladewski.... 37/442,643,472 6/1953 Merz 37/44 X 2,428,131 9/1947 Uebelhoer 37/44 3,425,4972/1969 Strahala et al 37/46 X Primary Examiner-Robert E. PulfreyAssistant Examiner-Eugene H. Eickholt Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobb &Robb [5 7 ABSTRACT This disclosure is of a moldboard type of plow, moreparticularly for snow removal, wherein the moldboard is comprised of apair of wings mounted on a frame to be connected to a vehicle, wherebythe wings may swing as a unit around a central point so as to direct thematerial being plowed to one side orthe other of a vehicle, or push suchmaterial straight ahead, and alternatively position the wings to causethe movement of the material to opposite sides of the vehicle,simultaneously or separately and in this latter position certain meansto close the gap created in the V- position are provided, which meansare movable into and out of position for that purpose, suitableoperating means being provided therefor.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures CONVERTIBLE SNOW PLOW WITH SLIDABLE CLOSINGWINGS OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of thisinvention to provide a very versatile moldboard type of plow which canbe used in all conventional ways, since the same incorporates thereinthe various attributes of a single, straight plow, movable to eitherside, around a central pivot point so as to direct snow or othermaterial being plowed to such side, likewise to be arranged so as toassume the form of a V-type plow wherein the material being plowed isdivided and plowed to opposite sides simultaneously, the gap between theends of the plow when in a V-position being closed by certain closuremeans arranged and operated in a manner to accommodate for the variouspositions to be assumed by the respective sections or wings of themoldboard.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a moldboard typeof plow, which when it assumes the V-type position is equipped withcertain closure means which are movable along the face of the respectivewings comprising the plow into a position adjoining one another, wherebyto complete the V-configuration desired to effect snow removal or thelike.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the various elementshereinbefore described so that they are operable by hydraulic means orother suitable operating instrumentalities to facilitate the movementthereof and to accommodate for various positions of the respective partsas they are placed in operating condition.

Another object of the invention is to mount the closure means in such amanner that they do not interfere in the normal use of the plow, and atthe same time are available. without attachment or detachment forassuming their operative position when the plow is in V-' condition withthe wings in divergent arrangement so that same may be moved into andout of location with simple manipulating means and rapidly foraccommodating for various conditions which are met by the plow inoperation.

Other and further objects of the invention will be understood from aconsideration of the specification appended hereto and disclosed in thedrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, partly fragmentary in nature, illustratingthe plow in its usual straight-ahead plowing condition as mounted on theforward end of a vehicle shown in dotted lines and fragmentary.

FIG. 2 is a position which the plow may assume so as to operate as aV-type plow, certain of the operating means being omitted for clarity.

FIG. 3 is a front view, somewhat fragmentary and primarily illustrativeto indicate the manner of positioning the respective parts when initialV-position of the wings of the plow is desired.

FIG. 4 indicates the closure means in closed position so as to completethe V-type plow as an operating unit.

FIG. 5 is a rear view, somewhat fragmentary, to further illustrate themounting means for the closure means.

FIG. 6 is a view taken about on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5, looking in thedirection of the arrows, to illustrate further the construction.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view, taken about on the line 77 of FIG. 5,looking in the direction of the arrows to illustrate detail further.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. I, the plow of thisinvention is shown as comprising a pair of wings 1 and 2, pivotallyconnected at 3 to a push frame designated 4, which latter push frame issuitably mounted by connecting 0 means 5 to the front axle 6 of avehicle generally suggested in dotted lines at 7 and to indicate therelationship of the vehicle to the plow hereof with suitable wheels suchas 8 supporting the front end of the vehicle, the vehicle being drivenin the conventional manner by a motor which is suggested at 9.

The push frame 4 being rectilinear in nature and of substantial strengthwith a forwardly extending mounting section 10 thereon to support thepivot 3, additionally supports suitable operating means comprising apair of hydraulic piston and cylinder units 11 and 12 with the usualhoses therefor connected to an operating manifold unit 13.

These piston and cylinder units 11 and 12 are connected to therespective wings 'at 15 and 16 in pivotal manner, the pivots beingsupported and connected on the respective wings by suitable rearwardlyextending lugs 17 and 18 respectively.

As shown, the pair of wings I and 2 when in alignment, comprise themoldboard curved in the usual manner and having suitable wear elementsla and 2a at their lower edges.

Since it is contemplated that the respective wings l and 2 may be movedsimultaneously in alignment so as to direct the snow or other materialbeing moved to the dotted line positions suggested at A and B, orintermediate such points, manipulation of the hydraulic piston andcylinder units 11 and 12 effects such movement.

The wings I and 2 as in FIG. 2, may be moved into a V-position with thewing 1, assuming approximately the position indicated by the line A andthe wing 2 along the line B around the pivot 3' on the push frame 4 andsupporting section 10 thereof.

Since such movement by the hydraulic piston and cylinder units 11 and 12will create a gap as shown in FIG. 3 at 20, it is obviously desirable toclose this gap if the plow is to be effective and direct all thematerial being engaged to the respective opposite sides of the vehicle.

For this purpose, the closure means comprising a pair of sliding members21 and 22 is provided, the members being substantially identical but ofthe opposite hand as will be appreciated from consideration of thevarious Figures, and rather peculiarly shaped, and best possiblydescribed as trapizoidal in plan, viewed from the front of the plow as awhole.

Referring more specifically to the other figures in the drawings, andparticularly to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be seen that each of the closuremembers or sliding members such as 21 is of arcuate configuration so asto conform with the face of the wing with which the same may beassociated, and in this case the wing 1, having at its upper end aninwardly or rearwardly extending angle member 23, which is suitablyfixed to the upper edge 24 of the member 21, and adapted to slide alonga mating member 25 welded or otherwise fixed at the upper edge of thewing member 1.

The lower edge of the sliding member 21 is suitably near the upper edgeof the wear member la so as to be partly guided thereby and is furtherequipped with wear surface 26 which is offset sufiiciently so as to besuitably spaced but close enough to the wear surface 1a as to movetherealong.

Fixed on the rear surface of the member 21, are suitable guide parts 27and 28 which extend through longitudinally extending slots 29 and 30respectively, and are engaged'by arcuate bar 300 extending from one ofthe guide members 27 to the other guide member 28 and fixed thereto bythe bolts 31 and 32.

This arcuate bar 30a is equipped with a pair of ears 33 suitably fixedto the member 30a so that they may in turn be engaged by the piston rod37 of a piston and cylinder unit 38, which piston and cylinder unit 38is pivotally mounted at 39 in rear of the wing l for example, the usualplumbing including hoses 40 being furnished for supplying fluid from themanifold control 13 in generally conventional manner.

Suitable guidebars are provided on the rear face of the wing 1 anddenoted 36 so that sufficient strength will be imparted to the unit toprevent its cocking undesirably and at the same time to extend it whereover a greater area.

In view of the foregoing, and the fact that the closure member 21 ismovable along the outer surface of the wing I, it may be moved into theposition shown in FIG. 4, and in this position its leading edge 41 willbe substantially vertical as viewed in that Figure although arcuate inend elevation as will be apparent since it must follow the configurationof the wing 1.

It is pointed out that the closure member 22 will be identicallyarranged with respect to the wing 2 and including the various elementsthereof so that such closure means or member may be slidable to and froalong the face of the wing 2 into the positions shown in FlGS. 3 and 4,the latter being with the edge 41 thereof adjoining the correspondingedge 41 of the closure member 21, whereby to close the gap created whenthe respective wings I and 2 are moved into the so-called V-position.

Correspondingly when the wings I and 2 are desired to be placed intransverse alignment for example, as in FIG. 1, the closure members orsliding members 21 and 22 must be retracted to the position shown inFIG. 3 for such manipulation.

It will be understood that the members 21 and 22 are movedsimultaneously toward and from each other as the plumbing is disclosed,while the wings may be moved individually or simultaneously by thepiston and cylinder units 11 and 12.

1 Claim:

1. In plow construction of the class described, in combination, a pushframe for mounting on a vehicle at the forward end thereof, a pair ofwings having pivotal mounting means at their adjacent ends on the frameso as to swing into alignment with one another, said mounting meansfacilitating swinging movement of the wings whilst in alignment intovarious angular positions with respect to said frame, and likewise intodivergent positions with respect thereto, separate, slidable closuremeans carried by the wings for the gap between the adjacent ends of thewings when the same are in the divergent position and operating meansfor said wings and closure means connected to said wings and means.

2. the combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure meanscomprise a pair of members, one being mounted on each of the wings formovement into a position to close the gap between the adjacent ends ofthe wings when the latter are in divergent position, and hydraulicpiston and cylinder units connected to the wings and to the members, tomove said members.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the pair of members areprovided with upper and lower guide means on the wings, are slidablealong the outer faces of the wings and guided into positions with theiradjacent vertical edges substantially in abutting position.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the members conform tothe contour of the wings, one being slidingly supported for movementalong the outer surface of each of said wings, guides are provided onthe wings and members to position the members during such movement, andhydraulic piston and cylinder units behind the wings are connected tosaid members to move the same.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4, wherein the operating meansare arranged to move the members into closing position irrespective ofthe angular disposition of the wings.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 4, wherein the operating meansare arranged to move the members simultaneously into closing position.

1. In plow construction of the class described, in combination, a pushframe for mounting on a vehicle at the forward end thereof, a pair ofwings having pivotal mounting means at their adjacent ends on the frameso as to swing into alignment with one another, said mounting meansfacilitating swinging movement of the wings whilst in alignment intovarious angular positions with respect to said frame, and likewise intodivergent positions with respect thereto, separate, slidable closuremeans carried by the wings for the gap between the adjacent ends of thewings when the same are in the divergent position and operating meansfor said wings and closure means connected to said wings and means. 2.the combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure meanscomprise a pair of members, one being mounted on each of the wings formovement into a position to close the gap between the adjacent ends ofthe wings when the latter are in divergent position, and hydraulicpiston and cylinder units connected to the wings and to the members, tomove said members.
 3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein thepair of members are provided with upper and lower guide means on thewings, are slidable along the outer faces of the wings and guided intopositions with their adjacent vertical edges substantially in abuttingposition.
 4. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the membersconform to the contour of the wings, one being slidingly supported formovement along the outer surface of each of said wings, guides areprovided on the wings and members to position the members during suchmovement, and hydraulic piston and cylinder units behind the Wings areconnected to said members to move the same.
 5. The combination asclaimed in claim 4, wherein the operating means are arranged to move themembers into closing position irrespective of the angular disposition ofthe wings.
 6. The combination as claimed in claim 4, wherein theoperating means are arranged to move the members simultaneously intoclosing position.